Box forming machine



BOX FORIING MACHINE I N I Ie INVENFOR.

BYM

ATTORNEY;

.ffl f4 27 1832,!!75 1 205151 April 29, 1941.

J. B. THAxToN 2,240,445

Box FoRuING MAGHINE Filed April 10, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 .idf

ATTORNEYS.

APlil 29, 1941- J. B. THAxToN 2,240,445

Box Forum@ MACHINE 252 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.-

April 29, 1941.

J. B. lgHAxToN 2,240,445

BOX FORIING MACHINE Filed April l0, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aprilv 29, 1941. J. B. THAxToN ,2,240,445

BOX FORIING MACHINE Filed April 1o, 1939 6 sheets-shea e 'f ff INVENTOR.

BY Wg ATTORNEYS..

Patented Apr. 29, 1941 BOX FORMING MACHINE `lames Boyd Thaxton, Indianapolis, Ind., assigner to Paper Package Company, Indianapolis, Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application April 1e, 1939, serial No. 266,947

(ci. .sa-39) 13 Claims.

My invention relates to machines for forming paper boxes, and especially to machines for forming boxes other than of the customary rectangular shape.

Among the objects of my invention are to construct a machine especially adapted for making boxes all the side walls of which are formed from a continuous strip bent to the desired configuration and provided with laterally extending tabs glued to the bottom or top of the box; to construct a machine which can be adapted to the formation of boxes of different shape by altering only a few parts of the machine; to construct a machine in which the side-wall tabs will be rmly and positively glued to the top or bottom of the box; to construct a machine in which the box will be formed by a continuous series of operations performed respectively at various stations in the travel of whereby to secure high-speed production; to avoid the feeding to the assembly station of less than all the parts required for a bomplete box; and generally to improve and simplify the co-nstruction of box-making machines.

In carrying out my objects, I construct the machine With an endless conveyor, desirably an intermittently rotating spider the arms of which carry form-plates corresponding to the internal shape and dimensions of the box to be formed. At o-ne station in the rotation of the spider, the strip forming the side walls of the box is applied to the form plate and held in association therewith by -means which travels with the form plate in movement of the conveyor. At the next station, the tabs on the wall-forming strip are bent against the bottom of the form plate and desirably heated. At the third station, the wallforming strip is brought into association and glued to a box-bottom or box-top. At the second station, I arrange a sensing means which controls the feed of box-bottoms (or box-tops) to the assembly station. At a subsequent station, the assembled box is stripped from the form plate; and at stations intermediate the assembly station and the stripping station, arrangements may be provided to apply pressure to the glued joints between the tabs on the side wall and the box-bottom (or box-top).

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention: Fig. 1` is a top plan View of a complete machine; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a horizontal section approximately on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the machine; Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate details of the mechanism for an endless conveyor,

feeding box-bottoms or box-tops to the assembly station; Fig. 7 is a plan View illustrating a means which may be employed to control the feeding of box-bottoms or box-tops; Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate details of the clamping means employed to hold the side wall of the box in association with each form plate during application of the box-bottom or box-top; Fig. 10 is a section on the line l-I of Fig. 3 illustrating certain details of construction; Fig. ll is a per- Spective View of a strip used to form the side Wall of a box; Fig. 12 is a plan view of a com- Dleted box or box-cover of heart shape; Fig. 13 is a similar View of a box or box-cover of oval shape; Fig. 14 is a plan view of a stack of boxbottoms or box-tops showing the means employed for preventing feeding of more than one box-bottom or box-top at a time; Fig. l5 is a bottom plan view of the glue-applicating member; Fig. 16 is a fragmental plan view showing details of the wall-forming mechanism; Fig. 17 is a plan view of a box-bottom or box-top showing the pattern'in which the glue is'applied thereto; Fig. 18 is a vertical section illustrating details of the glue-applying mechanism; Fig. 19 is a fragmental plan View showing a form of clamping member suitable for use in the formation of a heart-shaped box; and Fig. 20 is a plan View illustrating a form-plate and clamping member suitable for use in the manufacture of oval boxes. l

The box made by a machine embodying my invention may take a Wide variety of forms, two of which are illustrated in Figs. l2 and 13. In general, such a box comprises a side wall 25 of desired conguration having along its lower ledge a series oftabs 26 which are bent inwardly of the box and glued to the upper surface of the box-bottom 27. The latter desirably extends outwardly beyond the side Wall to form a flange. Covers for the boxes may be formed on the machine and may be in general of the same construction, the only difference between a box and its cover lying in the fact that` the side wall cf the Vcover will have somewhat larger dimensions to permit it to telescope yover the side wall of the box proper.

AFor purposes of illustration, I have shown and shall describe my invention as embodied in a machine adapted to form boxes of heart-shape. It will be understood, however, that my invention is. not limited to the formation of boxes roi this particular shape nor to the formation of boxes as distinguished fromvcovers.

If the side Wall of the box has any sharp ward the positions they will occupy in the nnished box.

General construction ofmach'ne (Figs. 1 to 4` inclusive) rEhe machine shown in the drawings embodies a frame 35 provided with suitable bearings for the support of a vertical shaft 3|. The shaft 3l' extends above the frame 35 where there is secured to it a spider consisting of a hub 32 and a series of equally spaced, radiating arms 33, here shown as six in number. Mounted on the frame is a means for rotating the shaft 3| intermittently. In the drawings, such means is shown as taking the form of the conventional Geneva movement including a driven star-wheel 35 mounted on the shaft 3l and a rotatable driving element 35 cooperating therewith.

Means are'provided for driving the machine,

such means conveniently taking the form of an electric motor 35 operatively connected, as through a belt V31 and pulleys 38 and 39, to the driving element of a variable-speed transmission it. The driven element of the variable-speed transmission 5i] is connected through a clutch 4l'.

with a shaft 42 which is in turn connected to a speed-reduction unit 43. The various moving parts of the machine are driven from the speedreduction unit 113 by suitable power-transmitting connections. Thus, the speed-reduction unit d3 may include two driven elements, one of which is in the form of a mitre gear lid which co-operates with another mitre gear lid to drive the Geneva movement 35-35 and the other of which is in the form of a sprocket i5 which, through a chain 5S and second sprocket 41, drives a shaft dit extending from front to rear of the machine beneath the top of the frame 30.

Desirably, the means employed for controlling the clutch dl and, through it, the operation of the entire machine includes a plurality of manually operated clutch-control members located at different points about the machine. In the drawings (Figs. 1 and 2), I have shown three of such clutch-control members in the form of levers 43, two mounted at opposite ends of the machine andV a third on the front side of the machine.

When the shaft 3l is stationary, the six arms 33 mounted upon it extend respectively to six stations, indicated in Fig. 1 as A to F inclusive. At its outer end, each of the arms 33 has secured to it a form-plate 5i! corresponding to the shape and internal dimensions of the box which the machine is to produce. At station A, the strip forming the side walls of the box is wrapped around the form plate 50 and is then secured thereto by means which travels with the form plate and which will be hereinafter described in detail. At stations B, C, D, and E respectively, there are mounted for vertical reciprocation beneath the form plates at such stations tables 52, 53, 5d, and 55. The table 52 at station B is desirably heated, 'as by the use of an electric resistance heating element (not shown), to warm the tabs 2E as they are held against the bottom of the form plate 55 by the table. Associated with the plate 53 at station C is means, including a glue tank 51, for applying glue in predetermined pattern to the upper surface of the boxbottom 21 and for transferring such box-bottom to the table 53, which is then raised to force the box-bottom 21 against the tabs 23. At stations D and E, the tables 54 and 55 are elevated and forced against the box-bottom 21 further to secure the glued joint between it and the tabs 26. At station F, the finished box is stripped from the form plate 5E] and delivered from the machine, as through the medium of a discharge chute 58.

'Ihe tables 52, 53, 54, and 55 at stations B, C, D, and E desirably reciprocate vertically in unison into and out of association with the form plates 56 respectively disposed at those stations. The tables are mounted respectively on the upper ends of Shanks 52', 53', 55', and 55 which are supported for vertical sliding movement in guides 5D on the frame of the machine. The means for reciprocating Veach of the two tables 53 and 55 is shown as taking the form of a rocker arm 6|` one end of which is pivoted to the frame 3B and the other end of which is disposed beneath the associated table-shank. Engaging beneath each of the arms 6I at an intermediate point thereof is the free end of a lever 52 the opposite end of which is pivoted to the frame of the machine as indicated at 53. Each of the arms 62 carries a cam roller 64 co-operating with a cam S5 on the shaft 48. The table 55 is raised through the medium of a rocker arm 66 which is pivoted at an intermediate point to the frame of themachine as indicated at 51. One end of the arm 56 is disposed beneath the shank 54', while the other end carries a cam-following roller co-operating with a cam 68 on the shaft 48. The shank 52 of the table 52 is raised through the medium of a rocker arm 1i] pivoted to the frame of the machine as indicated at 1| and having its free end disposed beneath the lower end of the shank 52. The arm 10 carries a cam-following roller 12 co-operating with a cam 13 mounted on a shaft 14 which extends horizontally along the front of the frame and is connected by mitre gearing 15 to the shaft 13B to rotate at the same speed. To regulate the height to which each of the tables 52, 53, 54, and 55 is elevated its shank may be provided with an adjustable thrust screw 15 which bears on the associated rocker arm.

At the stations C, D, and E, the outer ends of the arms 33 are supported against upward movement in order to prevent their deflection as a result of the upward pressure applied to the plates 55 at such stations bythe tables 53,54, and 55. For this purpose, I have shown the machine as provided with a bar 11 which extends across the machine and which is shaped to engage the upper surfaces of the arms 33 at' the outer ends thereof. The bar 11 is supportedgfrom the frame 30 by being' secured to the upper ends of pillars 13 which extend upwardlyjfrom the frame of the machine, as is clear from Fig, 2. For a similar purpose, a bar 15 may be provided at station B, such bar being secured to the frame 35, extending upwardly therefrom, and having its upper end disposed over the end of the arm 33 at station B to prevent excessive deflection of such arm when the table 52 is elevated.

The mechanism illustrated in the drawings for applying -the wall-forming strip 25 yof the box to the form plate E@ at station A comprises a carriage `85 supported in guides 85 for horizontal reciprocation toward and away from the form plate. Pivotally attached to the carriage 85 are two arms 81 and 83 which extend horizontally from the carriage toward the form plate. At their outer ends, the arms El and 38 respectively carry vertically extending pins 89 and 9U each of which has associated with it a ange 9|. 'I'he pins 89 and 9D are located in the same horizontal plane as is theform plate 50, and the flanges 9i are disposed near the bottoms of such pins to extend inwardlybeneath the form plate 53. A spring 92, orother suitable means, acts between the-arms 8l and 83 and biases them for movement toward each other.

Each form plate l) is disposed on its associated arm 33 so that, when at stationA, the point where the ends of the wall-forming strip 25 overlap is at the opposite side of the form plate from the carriage 85. In the case of a heartshaped box, I deem it desirable to overlap the ends of the strip 25 within the re-entrant angle of the form, and each form plate 5t is therefore so disposed on the arm 33 that the point thereof, when the form plate is in station A, is directed'toward the carriage 85. Various forms may require various dispositions on the arms 33; but in general it may be said that it is desirable to place the greatest dimension of each form plate at right angles uo the associated arm 33.

With the arms Sl and 88 in their retracted position (the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 1) a strip 25 is brought into association with the form plate 5i) at station A with the crease 28 at the point of the form plate. Before the strip is thus positioned, glue is applied to one end of the strip where `it will overlap the other end in the nished boX. As the carriage 85 advances from its retracted position, the pins 89 and 96 engage the strip 25 and force it into contact with the forrn plate 53, the pins being yieldingly forced toward the form plate by the action of the spring 92 so that as forward movement of the carriage 85 continues, the strip 25 is bent around the form plate and its ends brought into overlapping relation in rear thereof, as illustrated inFig. 16. During this wrapping operation, the flanges fai support the strip and force the tabs 25 into Contact withthe bottom ofthe form plate 5t.v I'o prevent the strip from climbing las it is wrapped, each form plate may be provided at its top with an outwardly projecting peripheral flange 5E.

Desirably, I provide on the carriage 85 some means for locating the arms S1 and 83 in order that the pins 89 and 9) will engage the strip 25 atthe proper points when the wrapping operation-starts. As is clear from Fig. 16, this means may comprise a pair of stop-screws 8i) adjustably mounted in the carriage 85 and disposed to engage the arms 81 and 88 respectively and limit their movement toward each other when the carriage is retracted.

`To avoid interference between the two'ends of the` stripV 25 as they are brought into overlapping relation, the pins t9 and 9i) are so arranged that one, here shown as` the pin 9E), will move inwardly across the rear face of the form plate in advance of the other so as to deposit thestripend with which it is associated across the rear face of the form plate before the opposite end of the strip is moved inwardly far enough to interfere. This result may be accomplished by pin 9i?) on that faceI which is adjacentithe form plate 50 as'the pins near the end of their wallforming movement. pin 9i), as the carriage 85 approaches the limit` of its forward movement, will move across the rear face of the form plate more rapidly than will the other pin 38; and the stripend acted upon by the pin 90 will therefore be disposed between the form plate 59 and the other strip-end, as is clear from Fig. 16.

In order to prevent the arms 8l and Sii` from coming `so close together that the pins 89 and 90 will interfere with the means for clamping the ends of the strip 25 in overlapping relation, forward `movement of the carriage is terminated before the pin 89 has reached the rearrnost point of the form plate. Because of its relief the pin 38, as evidentfrom Fig. 16, will be carried out of co-operation with the rear face of the form plate 50 before the pin S9 `has reached the limit of its inward and rearward movement in the formation of the side wall of the box. This movement of the pin @il away from the rear face of the form plate releases the adjacent end of the wall-forming strip 25. To prevent the strip 25 from unwrapping when its end is thus released, and also to prevent the arm 8S Vfrom swinging too far inwardly, I mount on the arm 88 at lateral extension 94 which carries a pin Sli' positioned to engage the strip 25 as the carriage 85 approaches its limit of inward movement and to hold the strip against the side -of the form plate 5B. Y

To force the ends of the `strip 25 into the reentrant portion of the form plate 5E), I mount on the end of the frame 3@ a swinging arm 95 (Figs. 4 and 16) which carries at its free enda pair of horizontally spaced pins Sii and'l positioned to engage the respective ends of the strip 25 as the arm S5 is advanced into association with the form plate 5i! at station A. As indicated in the drawings, the pin 9S, which engages that fend of the strip 25 wrapped aroundV the form plate by the pin 85, is shorter than the pin 91 to provide clearancefor the adjacent end of the strip 25 as it is moved across the re-entrant portion of the form plate. The pin 91 is slidably mounted in the arm $5 and biased toward advanced position as by a compression spring Q8 so that after the pin al forces the associated 25 into contact with the form plate movement of the arm 95 can continue to permit the shorter pin St to perform the same operation on the other end of the strip 25. If desired, the pin 96 may also be slidably mounted in the arm S5 and biased toward advanced position to accommodate over-travel of the arm 95.

I nd it advantageous to mount the pins 89 and on the respective arms 87 and 8B so that the positions of the pins longitudinally of the arms may be varie-d to accommodate for different weights and qualities of board and for differences in forming qualities occasioned thereby. Such an adjustment of the pins 89 and 90 may be ar'- ranged for by providing the arms 81 and 88, nearV their free ends, with slots in whichthe pins are mounted.

As previously indicated, there is associated withv each of the form plates 5? a clamp which presses the overlapping ends of the strip 25 together to provide a firm joint between them. includes a clamping member mi shaped to clamp the overlapping ends of the strip relieving one of the pins (shown in Fig. V16 as the i Because of this relief, thev inwardly i end of the strip This clamp v u 25 tightlyl against the re-entrant Walls of the form plate 50,.

Each of the clamping members I! is provided with an upwardly extending stem |02 pivotally mounted, as by a screw |03, upon a bracket |04 attached to the upper surface of the associated form plate 50, the mounting being such that the clamping member |0| can swing from the retracted position shown in Fig. 8 to the clamping position illustrated in Fig. 19.

For the purpose of operating each of the clamping members |0|, there is associated'with each of the arms 33 a rock shaft |05 which extends generally parallel to the associated arm 33. As shown in Fig. 9, the inner end of each of the shafts is supported in a suitable bearing |06 and carries an operating member keyed to the shaft for rotation therewith and having two arms |01 and |01 extending transversely in opposite directions from the shaft. The outer end of the shaft |05 is mounted in the bracket |04 and carries a crank-arm |08 connected by a link |09 to the stem |02 of the clamping member |0|, as is clear from Fig. 8.

The clamping member |0| is yieldingly held in retracted position (the full-line position in Fig. 8) by a spring ||0 which acts between the arm |01' and a rod projecting outwardly from the spider-hub 32. Movement of the clamp-parts under the influence of the spring l0 is limited, as by means of a pin |04 mounted in the bearing block |04 in position to engage the crank-arm |08 and limit its clockwise rotation. Retention of the clamp-member |02 in clamped position is secured by arranging the parts so that the centerlille of the spring ||0 crosses the axis of the shaft |05 as the clamp-member approaches its operative position (the dotted-line position in Fig. 8). When this occurs, the effect of the spring ||0 upon rotation of the shaft |05 is reversed and the spring thereafter tends to rock the shaft in a counterclockwise direction to hold the clamping member |0| rmly in engagement with the end of the strip 25 on the form plate 50.

For the purpose of operating the clamping mechanism, I mount for vertical reciprocation relative to the frame 30 two push-rods ||2 and H3, the former being disposed'beneath the outer end of the arm |01 at station A and the latter beneath the outer end of the arm |01' at station E. As the push-rod ||2 rises, it engages a roller ||4 on the arm |0`i and rocks the shaft |05 to bring the clamp-member |i| into operative position, where it is held by the spring ||0. As the push-rod ||3 rises, it engages the arm |01 at station E and rocks the shaft |05 to release the clamp.

The various moving parts of the wall-forming mechanism above described may all be operated by means driven from the shaft 14. As will be clear from Fig. 4, the shaft 14 carries a cam |20 which engages a cam-following roller |2| on a pivoted lever |22. The upper end of such lever is connected through a link |23 to the reciprocating carriage 85. A spring |24, operating between the lever |22 and a stationary point, serves to hold the cam-follower |2| in engagement with the cam |20. Desirably, the link |23 is made adjustable in length in order to regulate properly the advanced position of the arms 81 and 88.

The shaft 14 is also shown in Fig. 4 as carrying a box cam |25 the cam groove of which receives a roller |26 on a lever |21. The upper end of the lever |21 is connected by means of a link |28 to the swinging arm 95, the connection between the ,link |28 and arm 95 desirably being adjustable to vary the advanced position of the pins 96 and 01 which that arms bears.

The clamp-operating members ||2 and-i i3 are desirably reciprocated in unison and, to this end, they both may be supported from a horizontally extending bar |30 (Fig. 3) having a shank |3| extending downwardly and supported for vertical reciprocation from the frame 30. The lower end of the shank |3| is associated with a cam |32^rotatably supported from the frame 30 and driven, as by a chain drive |33, from the shaft 14. The cam |32 serves merely to raise the shank |3| and the parts which it bears, such parts being restored to normal position by their own weight. To avoid too rapid descent of such parts, dash-pot mechanism |34 may be provided.

Box-bottom magazine (Figs. 1, 2, 3, cmd 10) Adjacent station C, there is provided a vertically movable platform |40 for the support of a stack' of the box-bottoms 21. Vertical movement of the platform |40 is eiected by a rack |4| which extends downwardly from the platform into association with a pinion |42 on a shaft |43. The shaft |43 is rotatably supported in a subframe |44 on the main frame 30, and has rotatable with it a ratchet-wheel |45 and a handwheel |46. A pawl |41 mounted on the subframe |44 co-operates with the ratchet wheel |45 and acts, when engaged, to prevent retrograde rotation of the shaft |43 and descent of the plat form |40 under the influence of its weight.

For the purpose of elevating the platform |40 as the box-bottoms 21 thereon are successively used, I mount on the shaft |43 an oscillating arm |48 connected to the end of a link |40 the other end of which bears a cam-follower |50 cooperating with a cam i5! on a shaft |52 and held in engagement with such cam as by means of a spring |49 acting on the link |49. The shaft |52 may be driven through gearing |53 from the shaft 48. A pawl |54 on the arm |48 is held in association with the ratchet wheel |45 by a spring |55..

It will be apparent from the above description that as the shaft |52 rotates in the operation of the machine the arm |48 will oscillate and the ratchet mechanism |45|54 will rotate the pinion |42 intermittently to cause a correspondingly intermittent raising of the platform |40.

Desirably, some means is provided for regulating the operation of the mechanism which moves the platform |40 upwardly in order to maintain the top of the stack of box-bottoms 21 at a substantially constant level. The means illustrated in the drawings for accomplishing this purpose takes the form of a finger |60 pivotally supported from the sub-frame |44 and having its free end disposed to rest upon the uppermost box-bottom of the stack on the platform |40. The finger |60 is connected by a link |6| and an arm |62 to a rock-shaft |63 on the sub-frame |44. Rigid with the rock-shaft |63 I provide a pawl-lifter |64 which extends inwardly of the sub-frame |44 and has its free end disposed beneath the retaining pawl |41.

As the upper end of the stack of box-bottoms 21 on the platform |40 reaches the desired position, the uppermost box-bottom engages the finger |60 and lifts it, thus raising the free end of the pawllifter |64 to move the pawl |41 to inoperative position out of engagement with the ratchet wheel |45. Thereafter, the shaft |43 will oscillate with the arm |48, being moved in a forward K direction by the pawl |54 and in a reverse direction by the weight ofthe platform |40V and itsV is a transfer roll |15 contents.l As a result, upward feeding of the platform M is interrupted and is not resumed until, byremoval of box-bottoms from the' stack, the finger |50 drops to an extent sufcient to `permit re-engagement of the pawl |41 with the ratchet Wheel 45.

To permit free manual movement of the platform Md there is mounted in the sub-frame 144 a horizontally slidable member It which has at its inner end a pair of fingers |1 and |68 provided with inclined end surfaces positioned to engagepins |59 and |10 respectively on the pawls |54 and |41 and to move such pawls out the top of of Vemgagement with the ratchet wheel M5. The

member |62 may be held normally in inoperative position by a retracting spring |1|. By moving the member |66 inwardly against the force exerted upon it by the spring |1|, the pawls |41 and |54 are disengaged from the ratchet Wheel |45 so that the shaft |53 can be rotated freely in either direction by the hand wheel |66.

Glue-applying mechanism (Figs. 1, 2, 15, 17, and 18) The glue-applying mechanism applies glue to the upper surface of the box-bottom at the top 0f the stack on the platform Maand desirably applies such glue in a predetermined pattern corresponding to the disposition of the tabs 2S `on the strip 25 which forms the side walls of the box. i

Mounted for rotation above the glue-tank 51 dispose-:l so that its top is slightly higher than the top of the stack of box-bottoms 21 on the platform ill and sothat its bottom dips into the supply of glue in the tanlr'l. This transfer roll is positively driven, desirably by being mounted upon a shaft |16 which is connected through a chain-andsprocket drive |11 to a countershaft |18 in turn driven through a chain-drive |19 from the shaft 4t.

A sub-'frame |82 is pivotally supported at one end from the frame horizontally above the glue-transfer roll |15, its free end being disposed above the stack of boxbottoms 21 on the platform hl. A carriage |83 is slidabl'y mounted in the sub-frame |82 and has pivotally suspended from it a carrier |84 for a glue-applicator |35. The glue applicator |35 corresponds generally in shape to'the box being made upon the machine and is provided on its lower surface with a series of downwardly extending lugs i535 arranged in a pattern corresponding to that of the tabs 25 on the forming strip 25. In the operation of the glueapplying mechanism the applicator |85 is moved over the roll |15 with the lugs |36 in Contact with the roll, is brought to rest above the stack of box-bottoms 21, lowered into contact with the the glue on the lower surfaces of the lugs |35, and then returned. As is clear from the righthand half of Fig. 17, this glue is applied in the form of a series of spots |81 corresponding to the disposition of the tabs 25.

Movement of the applicator |35 in the subframe 55.22 be secured in various ways. I prefer, however, to mount the sub-frame |32 ceaxially with a shaft |98 carrying a sprocket ISI. In the free end of the sub-frame |82 there is rotatably supported a shaft |22 which carries a sprocket lfii. A chain 994| runs over the sprockets 39| and |53 and has .its free ends secured to the carriage |23, as indicated in Figs. l

39 and extends generally and 18. With this arrangement, rotation of the shaft |92 in one direction will move the carriage |33 from the position shown` in Fig. 1 across the top of the roller into a position above the platform |49, and reverse rotation of the shaft will restore the applicator to its original position.

To rotate the shaft |953 in the manner indicated, it is connected by a chainV |95 to a counter-shaft |96 rotatably supported in the frame Si?. The shaft l carries a pinion I 91 and a guide |58 (Fig. 3) for a reciprocable rack i539 meshing with the pinion |91. The rack |92 extends inwardly of the frame 3i] and isvpivotally connected'at its inner end to the upper end of a swinging arm 2M. its lower end to the frame Siland, at an intermediate point, is provided with a cam-roller received in a groove ZlV in the face of a cam 2&2 rotatable with the shaft |18. As the shaft |13 rotates, the arm S] is oscillated to cause reciprocation of the rack |99. This causesl the shaft |56 to rotate alternately in opposite directions, rotation of the same character being imparted to the shaft |99 throughthe chain drive |95. The speed-ratio of the chain drive |95, the size of the pinion |91, and the shape of the camgroove Ziil are all selected with due regard to each other toY produce the desired movement of the sliding carriage |83.

Vertical movement of the free end of the subframe |82 is controlled by means of links 2135 which extend downwardly from an intermediate point on the sub-frame |82 and have their lower Y ends connected to arms 265 which are rigid with a rock-shaft 2te on the sub-frame IM and one of which is` provided with a cam-follower cooperating with a cam 281 on the shaft |18. Normally, the cam 261 holds the sub-frame |82 in such position that the lugs |36 on the applicator will engage the upper surface of the gluetransfer roll |15 as the applicator moves thereover; but as --the carriage |83 comes to rest -at the inner limit of its movement the cam 2111 lowers the free end of the sub-frame |82 and permits the applicator to drop upon the uppermost box-bottom 21 in the stack of box-bottoms on the platform |49 to apply to such box-bottoms the glue with which the lower surfaces of the 'l lugs. les were coated. with the still at rest, the cam 201 now raises the free end of the frame |82; and, with the sub-frame so raised, the carriage is returned to its normal position by operation of theoam 202.

, uppermost of such box-bottoms to apply thereto the stripper plate l the uppermost box-bottom 21 For the purpose of preventing a box-bottom from adhering to the applicatorY 85, the stripping mechanism illustrated in Fig. 18 may be employed. This mechanism comprises a stripperplate 2| e attachedto the lower ends of pins 2|| which are arranged for vertical movement in the applicator-carrier |84. Springs 2 I2 acting against a yoke 23 which extend between the` upper ends of the pins 2|| normally serve to hold 2|0 against the under surface of the applicator mounting |84. The yoke 2|3, however, carries an upwardly projecting boss 2id having an inclined surface cooperating with an abutment 2|5 supported from the frame 39 in -Y position to engage the boss 2M and depress the yoke 2|3 when the carriage |83 reaches the inner limit of its movement in the sub-frame |82. As a result of depression of the yoke 2|3, the stripper plate 2 li! is forced into engagement with so as toprevent such box-bottom from raising with the appli- The arm '20 is pivoted at carriage |83 cator |85 when the latter is lifted after application of the glue.

Box-bottom transfer mechanism (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6. '7, and 14) After the glue has been applied to the uppermost box-bottom 21 and after the carriage |83 has been retracted from above the stack of the box-bottoms, the uppermost box-bottom is transferred to the table 53 at station C.

The Vtransfer mechanism comprises a shaft 220 mounted for-vertical movement and for oscillation about its own axis in the frame 35 and provided with an axial passage 225'. At its upper end, the shaft 220 carries a transversely projecting arm 222 upon which are mounted one or more suction-cups 223 positioned to engage the uppermost box-bottom of the stack on the platform |50. The interiors of the cups 223 communicate with a longitudinal passage'222' in the arm 222 which passage, in turn, communicates with the axially extending passage 220 in the shaft 220. This latter passage is connected, as through the medium of a flexible hose 224, with the inlet of an air compressor 225 driven in any suitable manner from the motor 28. The connection of the hose 224 to the air compressor includes a valve 226 by operationof which the passage 225 in the shaft 22|] can either be connected to the inlet of the air compressor to exhaust air from the cups 223 or to atmosphere to relieve the suction within such cups.

Movement of the arm 222 and operation of the valve 226 are controlled from the shaft |22. This shaft has rotatable with it a cam 255 co-operating with a rocker arm 231 upon which the lower end of the shaft 220 rests. The rocker arm 231 is pivotally mounted atan intermediate point upon a pivot 232; and a spring 233, acting on the shaft 22B, serves to force such shaft downwardly and to maintain the rocker arm 23! in association with the cam 235. Oscillation of the shaft 225 is secured by a cam 235 mounted for rotation upon the shaftl52 previously described. As will be clear from Fig. 6, the cam 235 oscillates a pivoted lever 235 the free-end of which is connected through a link 231 with an arm 258 projecting laterally from'the shaft 220. A spring 239 acts on the shaft 225 and tends to rotate it in a direction which will maintain the lever 235 in co-operation with the cam 235.

The valve 226 is controlled by a link 2d! connected to a rocker arm 2152 actuated by a cam 243 on the shaft |18.Y

In the operation of the box-bottom transfer mechanism, the arm 222 is swung to the position shown in dotted-lines in Fig. 5 and in full-lines in Fig. l after the glue-carriage |83 of the glueapplying mechanism Vhas been withdrawn from above the stack of box-bottoms, and is then lowered until the suction-cups 223 engage the uppermost box-bottom in the stack. After this is done, the valve 226 is closed by the cam'2f23 to create sub-atmospheric pressure within the cups 223 so that the uppermost box-bottom 21 will be lifted when the shaft 228 is raised by the cam 255 and rocker-arm 23 l These operations are performed while the carrier 32-33 is at rest. After the box-bottom has been thus raised, the carrier :i2-33 is indexed and the cam 235 then rocks the shaft 225 to cause the arm 222 to move to the full-line position illustrated in Fig. 5 above the table 55 at station C. With the arm 222 in this position, the valve 225 is operated to vent the passages within Ythe shaft 225 and arm 222, thus elevated by the suction cups 223.

breaking the suction in the cups 223, and the boxbottom 21 drops upon the table 53. To locate the box-bottom upon the table, the latter may be provided with a series of locating-members 245. To prevent the leading edge of the box-bottom 21 from engaging the table 53 as it is moved thereover, the latter may carry one or more inclined guides 255 which extend outwardly and downwardly from' it toward the stack of boxbottoms on the platform |59.

I find it desirable to associate with the stack of box-bottoms on the platform H15 means which will prevent more than one box-bottom from being One means which I have found suitable for this purpose takes the form of a plurality of relatively stiff brushes 250 which are mounted upon a support 25! in such a position that their bristles engage the edges of the box-bottoms 21 at and near the top of the stack. The support 25! is conveniently mounted upon stationary guide-rods 252 which are disposed about the periphery of the stack of box-bottoms on the platform ill and which serve to guide. those box-bottoms as they are moved vertically in the operation of the machine. The brushes 250 may be supplemented by rigid pins 253 which are also mounted on the support 25I and which extend inwardly therefrom into engagement with the edges of box-bottoms near the top of the stack. As a further means of preventing more than one box-bottom from being transferred to the table 53, I may dispose adjacent the top of the stack of box-bottoms 21 one or more air discharge nozzles 255 connected to receive air from the compressor 225. The blasts of air from these nozzles impinging on the edges of the box-bottoms from the nozzles 255 will tend to separate them so that only the top one will be lifted by the suction cups 223. g

If desired, I may incorporate in the machine means for preventing the feeding of box-bottoms 21 to the table 53 when the form plate 55 at station C has no wall-forming strip 25 upon it. For this purpose, the inlet of the air compressor 225 has connected to it a pipe 251 which extends to station B and has its open end arranged in association with a valve member 258. 'Ihe valve member 258 is yieldingly mounted in the outer end of an arm 259 which is pivotally supported and which carries a roller 259 disposed in the plane of the form plate 5E! at station B. A spring 25| acts on the arm 259, forcing the roller 255 toward the form plate 52 and the valve member 258 away from the adjacent end of the pipe 251. The valve member 258 is so mounted that if the roller 255 engages the form plate 55 the end of the pipe 251 will be uncovered, whereas if the roller 25B engages a wall-forming strip 25 on the form plate 50 the valve member 258 will close the open end of the pipe 251. As a result, if no wall-forming strip 25 is present on the form plate 55 at station B, the inlet of the air compressor 225 will remain connected to atmosphere through the open end of the pipe 251, no suction will be applied to the cups 223 and no boxbottom will be raised to be fed to the table 53. If, on the other hand, there is a Wall-forming strip on the form plate 50 at station B the end of the pipe 251 will be closed so that suction can be applied to the cups 223 and a box-bottom elevated and later fed to the table 53.

Stripper mechanism (Figs. 1, 2, 3, cmd 4) At station F, there is mounted on the frame a vertically slidable rod 255 to the upper end of which I secure a plate 265 positioned above the form plate 50 at that station. 'Secured to the plate 266 are a plurality of downwardly extending pins 251 positionedrespectively in alinem'ent with holes 258 in theform plate 55. Normally, the plate 255 is disposed in the elevated position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, with the pins 251 well above the plane of the arms 33 so as not to interfere with movement thereof. When the carrier 32-33 comes to rest, however, the rod 265 is lowered and the pins 261 enter the holes 255 in the form plate 5G, engage the box thereon, and force it from the form plate so that it will drop into the discharge chute 55. Desirably the pins 251, or at least some of them, are disposed to engage tabs 25 of the box so that the stripping action will not impose a strain upon `the glued joints between such tabs and the box-bottom 2l.

For the purpose of moving the stripper 265-255-261 vertically, its lower end may be operatively connected to the free end of a rocker arm 210 pivotally mounted upon the frame 35. At an intermediate point, the arm 210 carries a cam-follower 21| resting .on the upper surface of a cam 212 rigid with the shaft 48. By its engagement with th-e follower 21|, the cam 2'i2 normally holds the stripper in elevated position but is so shaped that, with the carrier 32-33 at rest, the stripper may drop of its own weight to force the iinished box from the form plate.

Operation As will be clear from the above description, the carrier 32`33 is rotated intermittently by the Geneva movement 35-35 Is0 that each of the arms 33 successively comes to rest at the various stations A to F inclusive. With .the carrier at rest, a wall-forming strip 25 is appliedto the form plate 59 at station A and wrapped around the form plate by operation of the pins 9) and 5| in forward movement of the carriage 85, its ends being brought into overlapping engagement and secured by the operation of the pins 95 and 91 and clamping member lil l. The carriage 85 stays in its advanced position until the beginning of indexing movement of the carrier 32-33 and is retracted during such indexing movement to be in position to begin a new wall-forming operation as the next succeeding form plate 5E! reaches station A. To prevent the arms 81 and 88 from swinging unrestrainedly inwardly as the form plate 5E is withdrawn from between the pins 89 and 92', I may mount on the frame 3i) a member 219 which extends upwardly into the pl-ane of the arms in a position to limit their inward swinging movement and prevent the pins 89 and 90, or their flanges 9 I, from striking the clamp member IGI or the arm 95.

At station B the table 521s elevate-d after the carrier 32-33 has come to rest, such table engaging the tabs 25 on the wall-forming strip 25 and forcing them [into contact with the lower surface of the form plate 55. While the table 52 remains in contact with the tabs, the latter are heated by the heating element embodied in the table 52.

While the carrier .i2-S3 is at rest, the arm 222 of the box-bottom .transfer mechanism is elevated by the cam 235. Should lthere be no wall-forming strip 25 on the form plate 50 at station B the end of the suction pipe 251 wil-l be open to atmosphere, no suction can -exist in the suctioncups 223, and no box-bottom 21 will .be lifted from the stack when the arm 222 is raised. If, however, there is a Wall-forming strip on the form plate at station B, the valve 258 will close the end ofthe suction pipe 251 so that sub-atmosphericprs'- sure can exist `within the suction cups 223, in' which event a box-bottom 21 will be elevated by the cups in position to be swung over Ithe .table 53 at station C after the next indexing-Inovement ofthe carrier 32-33.

Before that next indexing movement of .the carrier" begins the table 52, together with the tables 53, 54, and 55 is lowered. After the oarrier-arm 33 moving from station C to station D has cleared .the table 53, the arm 222 is swung to a position above that table `by the yaction of the cam 235, `the valve 225 is Ioperated by the cam 243 to vent th-e suction cups 223, and the boxbottom 21 drops on to the .table 53, being located in proper position thereon by the locating meins bers 245. The arm 222 is then retracted toits position above the platform |40; and, after the carrier has come'to rest in its new position, the table 53is elevated to torce the box-bottom 21 against the lower surfaces of the tabs 26 of the wall-forming strip 25 on the form plate 50.

After the' tables 52, 53, 54, and 55 have again been lowered, the next indexing movement of the carrier 32--33 conveys the box to station Dya'nd the following indexing movement conveys it to station E. At these stations, lthe respective tables 56 and 55 are elevated against the box-bottom 21 during the dwell of the carrier and exert pressure on the glued joint between the `tabs 25 and the box-bottom. ToV prevent any box-bottomlfrom falling during indexing movement of the carrier, supports 280 may extend from station C to station D and from station D to station E.

At station E the clamping member IUI, which has been pressing the overlapped ends ofthe strips 25 together during movement of the box from station A to station E, is released by upward movement of the push-rod l |3 above described, so that when the stripper E25-221 is lowered, after the boxv has reached station F, the box will be strippedf-rom the form plate 55 and deposited-in the discharge chute 55.

To make chine of `the type described, it is only` necessary to change a few of the parts which actually engagethe side walls 25 and box-bottoms 21. Thus, for example, :to make an oval box such as that shown in4 Fig. 13, ea-ch of the heart-shaped form plates 55 would be replaced by an oval form plate' 56a, as indicated in Fig. 20, the glue-applicator |55 would be changed for one which applied the glue in proper pattern for `the new box-shape, the stripper 22o- 221 would be appropriately altered, etc'.

I'claim :as my invention:

1. In a box-forming machine, a rotatable carrier, an annular series of box-forms mounted on said carrier, means for rotating said carrier intermittently to bring said forms successively to eac-h of aseries of sta-tions, mechanism at one of said stations for wrapping about the form thereat a iexible wall-forming strip having along its" lower edge a series of tabs, a reciprooable table at the next station for forcing said tabs against the lower face of .the form, heating means associated with said table for heating it, a second relciproeable table at a for successively depositing box-bottoms on said second table, mechanism foi' applying an adhesive in predetermined pattern to each of said box-.bottoms before it is deposited on Said second v table, a third reciprocable table a-t a subsequent station, stripping mechanism at a still subsequent boxes of diderent shapes on a ma- Y subsequent station, means' station, and means for actuating said wall-forming mechanism and said glue applying mechanism and for reciprocating said tables and operating said carrier-moving means all in timed relationship.

' 2. In a box-forming machine, a rotatable carrier, an annular series of box-forms mounted on said carrier, means for rotating said carrier intermittently to bring said forms successively to each of a s-eries of stations, mechanism at one of said stations for wrapping about the form thereat a flexible wall-forming strip having along its lower edge aseries of tabs, a reciprocable table at the next station for forcing said tabs against the lower face of the form, ia second reciprocable table :at a subsequent station, means for successively depositing box-bottoms on said second table, mechanism for applying an ladhesive in predetermined pattern to each of said box-bottoms before it is deposited on said second table, a third recprocable table at -a subsequent station, stripping mechanism at a still subsequent station, and means for actuating said wall-forming mechanism and saidglue applying mechanism and for reciprocating saiditables and operating said carrier-moving means all in timed relationship.

3. In a box-forming machine, a rotatable carrier, an annular series of box-forms mounted on said carrier, means for rotating said carrier intermittently to bring said forms successively to each of aseries of stations, mechanism at one of said stations for wrapping about the form thereat a flexible wall-forming strip having along its lower edge la series of tabs, a reciprocable table at a subsequent station, means for successively depositing box-bottoms on said table, mechanism for applying an adhesive in predetermined pattern to each of said box-bottoms before it is deposi-ted on said table, a second reciprocable table at a subsequent-station, stripping mechanism at a still subsequent station, and means for actuating said wall-forming mechanism and said glue applying mechanism and for reciprocating said tables vand operating said carrier-moving means, all in timed relationship.

4. In a box-forming machine, a rotatable carrier, an annular series of box-forms mounted on said carrier, means for rotating said carrier intermittently to bring said forms successively to each of a series of stations, mechanism at one of said stations for wrapping about the form thereat a ilexible wall-forming strip having along its lower edge a series of tabs, a reciprocable table at a subsequent station for forcing against said tabs a box-bottom to be glued thereto, and a stationary supporting member disposed above the form at said subsequent station in a position to prevent upward deformation of said carrier from the pressure exerted by said table.

5.'In a box-forming machine, a box-form, a carriage movable in a plane parallel to said form, a wall-forming member movably supported from said carriage to pass along at least one side of said form as the carriage moves and to force against the side of the form a flexible wallforming strip having a spaced series of tabs along its lower edge, said wall-forming member having -a flange positioned to engage said tabs and force them successively against the lower surface of said form.

6. In a box-making machine, a horizontally disposed form for the side walls of a box, a carriage horizontally reciprocable toward and away from said form, two arms pivotally mounted on said carriage and having at their free ends wallforming members adapted to engage a strip of flexible material and bend it in a horizontal plane into contact with opposite sides of said form as said carriage moves theretoward, said arms being respectively provided below the wall-engaging portions of said members with -outwardly projecting flanges for supporting the strip of flexible material during the bending operation, and yielding means acting between said arms for forcing said members toward each other.

V'7. In aV box-making machine, a horizontally disposed form for the side walls of a box, a carriage horizontally reciprocable toward and away from said form, two arms pivotally mounted on said carri-age and having at their free ends wall-forming members adapted to engage a strip of flexible material and bend it in a horizontal plane into contact with opposite sides of said form as said carriage moves theretoward, said arms being respectively provided below the wall-engaging portions of said members with outwardly projecting flanges for supporting the strip of flexible material during the bending operation, and yielding means for forcing said members toward each other.

3. In a box-making machine, a form for the side walls of a box, a carriage reciprocable toward and away from said form in a plane parallel to the plane of the form, two arms pivotally mounted on said carriage and having at their free ends Wall-forming members mounted in xed position on the respective arms and adapted to engage a strip of flexible material and bend it into contact with opposite sides of said form to for-m the side walls of a box as said carriage moves theretoward, and yielding means for forcing said members toward each other, said wall-forming members being so disposed on their respective arms that one will move inwardly across the rear face of said form more rapidly than will the other as the carriage approaches the end of its movement toward the form.

9. In a box-making machine, a form for the side walls of a box, a carriage reciprocable toward and away from said for-rn in a plane parallel to the plane of the form, two arms pivotally mounted on said carriage and having at their free ends wall-forming members adapted to engage a strip of flexible material and bend it into contact with opposite sides of said form to form the side walls of a box as said carrier moves theretoward, yielding means for forcing said members toward each other, means for limiting inward movement of the side-wall forming members when they are cio-operating with the rear face of the form, and mechanism acting on said wallforming strip between said members for successively disposing the ends of the wall-forming strip in overlapping relation against the rear face of the form, said mechanism including a part movable toward and away from the rear face of said form and carrying two elements Yrespectively engageable with the ends of said strip, one of said elements being disposed in advance of the other and being yieldingly mounted in said part.

10. In a box-making machine, a form for the side walls of a box, a carriage reciprocable toward and away from said form in a plane parallel to the plane of the form, two arms pivotally mounted on said carriage and having at their free ends wall-forming members adapted to engage a strip of flexible material and bend it into contact with opposite sides of said form to form the side walls of a box as said carriage moves theretoward, yielding means for forcing said members toward each other, means for limiting inward movement of the side-wall forming members when they are co-operating with the rear face of the form, and mechanism acting on said wall-forming strip between said members for successively disposing the ends of the wall-forming strip in overlapping relation against the rear face of the form, said mechanism including a part movable toward and away from the rear face of said form and carrying two elements respectively engageable with the ends of said strip.

11. In a box-making machine, a form for the side walls of a box, a carriage reciprocable toward and away from said form in a plane parallel to the plane of the form, two arms pivotally mounted on said carriage and having at their free ends wall-forming members adapted to engage a strip of flexible material and bend it into contact with opposite sides of said form to form the side walls of a box as said carriage moves theretoward, and yielding means for forcing said members toward each other, said wall-forming members being independently adjustable longitudinally of the respective arms to any of various xed positions.

12. The invention set forth in claim 8 with the addition of an auxiliary member mounted on the arm carrying the wall-forming member which moves inwardly the more rapidly across the rear face of said form, said auxiliary member being positioned to engage said strip at the side of the form as the wall-forming member on such arm reaches the extreme rear face of the form.

13. In a box-making machine, a form for the side walls of a box, a movable carrier to which said form is affixed, a carriage reciprocable toward and away from said form in a plane parallel to the plane of the form, two arms pivotally mounted on said carriage for swinging movement in respective planes parallel to but displaced from the plane of the form, said arms being respectively provided at their free ends with wall-forming members projecting from the plane of the arms into the plane of the form and adapted to engagev a strip of flexible material and bend it into contact with opposite sides of said form to form the side walls of a box as said carriage moves theretoward, and yielding means for forcing said members toward each other.

JAMES BOYD TI-IAXTON. 

